“I will use all the powers of this office to help advance efforts aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. We won’t prevent them all—but that can’t be an excuse not to try. It won’t be easy—but that can’t be an excuse not to try.
And I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. Ultimately if this effort is to succeed it’s going to require the help of the American people—it’s going to require all of you. If we’re going to change things, it’s going to take a wave of Americans—mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, pastors, law enforcement, mental health professionals—and, yes, gun owners—standing up and saying ‘enough’ on behalf of our kids.
It will take commitment and compromise, and most of all, it will take courage. But if those of us who were sent here to serve the public trust can summon even one tiny iota of the courage those teachers, that principal in Newtown summoned on Friday—if cooperation and common sense prevail—then I’m convinced we can make a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place for our children to learn and to grow.”
— President Obama at a news conference today
(via thesoapboxschtick)
